Biological bases of behaviour: parts and functions of the brain

Question 1

Where is the hindbrain located?

Answer 1

At the base of brain near back of skull

Question 2

What is the function of the hindbrain?

Answer 2

Controls vital activities over which we have no control

Question 3

What structures is the hindbrain made up of?

Answer 3

The cerebellum and the medulla

Question 4

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 4

Located in hindbrain; receives information from sensory systems, spinal cord and other parts of brain and uses it to regulate posture and balance and coordinate fine muscle movements. Thought to be involved in motor learning that involves practice.

Question 5

Where is the medulla and what is its function?

Answer 5

At base of brain in front of cerebellum.

Controls vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, swallowing

Question 6

Where is the midbrain located?

Answer 6

On top of hindbrain under cerebral hemispheres

Question 7

What does the midbrain do?

Answer 7

Receives messages from all senses except smell and sends them to higher brain regions that deal with those senses.
Receives replies that it directs to places such as cerebellum.

Question 8

What is a part of the midbrain?

Answer 8

Reticular formation

Question 9

What is the reticular formation?

Answer 9

Nerves running through centre of midbrain from forebrain to hindbrain that screen incoming information so higher brain centres tend to important information.

Question 10

What function is a part of the reticular formation?

Answer 10

The Reticular activating system has pathways going up to cerebral cortex and down to spinal cord; increases/dampens arousal level and muscle tone in response to feedback from brain.

Question 11

What are some of the functions/roles of reticular formation?

Answer 11

Reticular formation plays role in controlling sleeping, waking and level of alertness.

Question 12

What is the forebrain?

Answer 12

The largest and most highly developed part of the brain

Question 13

What is the function of the forebrain?

Answer 13

Coordinates and regulates functions of brain

Plays major role in how we think, feel and behave

Question 14

What structures does the forebrain consist of?

Answer 14

Hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebral cortex

Question 15

Hypothalamus function

Answer 15

Regulates release of hormone controlling body temperature, our biological clock, sex drive, and thirst and hunger needs

Question 16

Thalamus function

Answer 16

Filters information from senses (except from nose) and passes it on to appropriate part of the brain for processing.
Regulates arousal through connecting to reticular activating system

Question 17

What is the cerebral cortex/cortex?

Answer 17

The wrinkled outer layer of the brain with two hemispheres

Question 18

Where is the cerebrum?

Answer 18

Comprises mostly of the forebrain; located above and in front of cerebellum. Has two hemispheres

Question 19

Define hemispheres

Answer 19

The two halves of the cerebral cortex that are separated by a deep groove

Question 20

Define corpus callosum

Answer 20

A thick band of fibres in the middle of the brain that allows messages to be sent from one hemisphere to the other

Question 21

What would be the effect/s of the corpus callosum being cut?

Answer 21

The hemispheres would not be able to communicate, and the right side of the body would not know what the left side of the body is doing.

Question 22

Which hemisphere controls which side of the body?

Answer 22

Right- receives sensory information and controls movement of left side
Left- receives sensory information and controls movement of right side

Question 23

Specialisations of left hemisphere

Answer 23

• Verbal functions e.g. speaking, reading, writing, understanding language
• Reasoning/analysing/interpreting information
• Analytical thinking, sequential processing, logical reasoning
• Science and maths

Question 24

Specialisations of right hemisphere

Answer 24

• Visual-spatial tasks (e.g. maps, jigsaws)
• Art and music
• Detection and expression of emotion
• Recognition of faces and patterns
• Holistic thought
• Intuition and creativity

Question 25

What are lobes? Name the lobes of the cerebral cortex.

Answer 25

Lobes are areas defines by deep fissures/grooves in cortex, each with different functions. Each hemisphere has 4:
-Parietal, temporal, frontal, occipital

Question 26

Location of frontal lobe

Answer 26

At front of each hemisphere, in front of parietal lobe and above temporal lobe

Question 27

Function of frontal lobe

Answer 27

Control of voluntary movement
Abstract thinking
Regulation of emotional behaviour
Personality

Question 28

What happens if frontal lobe is damaged?

Answer 28

Personality may change; decrease in capacity for reasoning and problem solving

Question 29

Location of temporal lobes

Answer 29

On each side of brain, under cerebral hemispheres

Question 30

Function of temporal lobe

Answer 30

Receive and process verbal and non-verbal auditory information
Critical role in understanding speech, interpreting sounds

Question 31

What happens if temporal lobe is damaged?

Answer 31

Person’s language ability is affected

Question 32

Location of occipital lobes

Answer 32

At back of brain above cerebellum

Question 33

Function of occipital lobes

Answer 33

Receive and process visual information such as colour, shape and motion

Question 34

What happens if occipital lobes are damaged?

Answer 34

Can affect vision, even if eyes and connecting nerves to brain are normal

Question 35

Location of parietal lobes

Answer 35

Above occipital lobe and behind frontal lobe

Question 36

Function of parietal lobes

Answer 36

Integrates sensory information relating to touch, temperature, position in space and muscle movement

Question 37

What happens if parietal lobes are damaged?

Answer 37

Reduction in bodily feelings